Commsec Pocket vs IG Australia
CommSec Pocket is a stripped-back, low-cost ETF-only app from the Commonwealth Bank, while IG Australia is a full-service broker offering ASX and international shares, CFDs, and advanced order types. The biggest practical difference is ownership structure: Pocket is CHESS-sponsored (you get your own HIN), whereas IG holds your shares in custody under its own nominee. That custody model lets IG offer $0 ASX brokerage, but it comes with trade-offs around control and dividend reinvestment.
- ›You want CHESS sponsorship and your own HIN, so shares are registered in your name on the ASX
- ›You're happy sticking to ASX ETFs and don't need individual shares, US stocks, or international markets
- ›You want to set up automatic dollar-cost averaging into a single ETF each month
- ›You prefer a simple mobile-only experience backed by the Commonwealth Bank ecosystem
- ›You want dividend reinvestment plans (DRP) on your ETF holdings without extra admin
- ›You want $0 brokerage on ASX trades up to $10,000 — no minimum trade count required
- ›You need access to US shares, UK stocks, or European markets alongside ASX trading
- ›You want advanced order types like stop-loss and conditional orders, plus after-hours trading
- ›You need joint, company, trust, or SMSF account structures
- ›You want to trade CFDs or use a demo account to test strategies before committing real money
Where they differ
| Fact | Commsec Pocket | IG Australia |
|---|---|---|
| ASX brokerage (up to $1,000) | $2 flat | $0 flat |
| CHESS sponsorship | Yes (own HIN) | No (custodial) |
| US & international shares | Not supported | US, UK, Germany, Ireland |
| Account types | Individual only | Individual, Joint, Company, Trust, SMSF |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes (single ETF) | No |
Choose CommSec Pocket for simple, CHESS-sponsored ETF investing; choose IG for zero-commission ASX trades and global market access.
Common questions
How do Commsec Pocket and IG Australia compare on asx brokerage (up to $1,000)?
Commsec Pocket: $2 flat. IG Australia: $0 flat. IG charges zero commission on ASX trades under $10,000; Pocket charges $2 on trades up to $1,000.
How do Commsec Pocket and IG Australia compare on chess sponsorship?
Commsec Pocket: Yes (own HIN). IG Australia: No (custodial). Pocket gives you direct CHESS ownership; IG holds shares in custody under Citicorp Nominees.
How do Commsec Pocket and IG Australia compare on us & international shares?
Commsec Pocket: Not supported. IG Australia: US, UK, Germany, Ireland. Pocket is ASX ETFs only; IG offers four global markets.
When is Commsec Pocket the better choice over IG Australia?
Pick Commsec Pocket if you want CHESS sponsorship and your own HIN, so shares are registered in your name on the ASX; you're happy sticking to ASX ETFs and don't need individual shares, US stocks, or international markets; you want to set up automatic dollar-cost averaging into a single ETF each month; or you prefer a simple mobile-only experience backed by the Commonwealth Bank ecosystem.
When is IG Australia the better choice over Commsec Pocket?
Pick IG Australia if you want $0 brokerage on ASX trades up to $10,000 — no minimum trade count required; you need access to US shares, UK stocks, or European markets alongside ASX trading; you want advanced order types like stop-loss and conditional orders, plus after-hours trading; or you need joint, company, trust, or SMSF account structures.
Commsec Pocket or IG Australia — what's the verdict?
Choose CommSec Pocket for simple, CHESS-sponsored ETF investing; choose IG for zero-commission ASX trades and global market access.
Punch in your trade size and frequency. We'll do the full brokerage + FX + fees maths.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | Commsec Pocket | IG Australia |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | chess | custodian |
| Individual HIN | Yes | No |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | No | Yes |
| Company account | No | Yes |
| Trust account | No | Yes |
| SMSF account | No | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | No | — |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | Yes | Yes |
| ASX ETFs supported | Yes | Yes |
| US shares supported | No | Yes |
| US ETFs supported | No | Yes |
| Other markets supported | United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland | |
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | No |
| Options trading | No | No |
| CFDs supported | No | Yes |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | No | No |
| IPO access | No | Yes |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | — | 0.7% |
| FX spread (other currencies) | — | 0.7% |
| Holds USD account | — | Yes |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | — | $0 |
| Corporate action fees | Corporate actions (rights issues, SPPs, takeovers) are administered via the underlying ETF issuers/share registries since holdings are CHESS-sponsored under the investor's HIN; CommSec does not charge a separate corporate action fee. | Corporate actions (dividends, splits, rights issues, takeovers) for shares held in custody are processed by IG via Citicorp Nominees; cash dividends are credited net of withholding to client ledger. SPP/rights elections are limited under the custodial model and detailed fees are disclosed in the IG Share Trading Customer Agreement / FSG. |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | $2 | $0 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | 0.2% | 0% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | $1,000 | $10,000 |
| ASX free trade conditions | Promotional $0 brokerage offer on Pocket ETF trades from 20 April 2026 to 17 July 2026 inclusive, available to all CommSec Pocket customers. | $0 commission on all ASX shares and ETFs on the IG Share Trading account (no conditions/minimum trade count). A 0.25% p.a. platform fee on holdings value applies; 0.7% FX fee applies to international trades. |
| US brokerage minimum | — | US$0 |
| US brokerage percentage | — | 0% |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| Off-market transfer fee | $54 | — |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Commonwealth Securities Limited | IG Australia Pty Ltd |
| AFSL number | 238,814 | 515,106 |
| Year founded | 2,019 | 2,002 |
| Parent / ownership | Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) | IG Group Holdings plc (LSE: IGG) |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | public |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $50 | $0 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | $50 | — |
| Deposit methods | Linked CBA transaction account (CDIA, Smart Access, Streamline Basic, NetBank Saver, etc.) - direct debit | bank transfer, BPAY, debit card, credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay |
| Settlement period | T+2 | T+2 (ASX), T+1 (US) |
| Withdrawal time | 1-2 business days | 1-3 business days |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | No | Yes |
| Demo account | No | Yes |
| Free real-time market data | No | No |
| Free research reports | No | Yes |
| 2FA support | SMS + PIN | authenticator app |
| Customer support channels | phone, email, in-app messaging | phone, email, live chat, social media |
| Support hours (AU time) | Mon-Fri 8:00am-6:00pm AET (phone) | 24/5 Monday to Friday (closed weekends) |
| Education content | structured courses | video + courses |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | Yes | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | No | — |
| CGT calculator / report | Yes | Yes |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | Yes | — |
| trading mechanics | ||
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Limit orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop loss orders | No | Yes |
| Conditional orders | No | Yes |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Yes | No |
| Auto-invest sophistication | single asset | none |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | Yes | No |
| After-hours / overnight trading | No | Yes |